Northwestern Saskatchewan

Census Division 16 – Blaine Lake, Canwood, North Battleford, Radisson and Spiritwood areas
Census Division 17 – Glaslyn, Maidstone, Meadow Lake, Pierceland and St. Walburg areas

For the Period May 5 to 11, 2026

Producers were beginning to make seeding progress over the past week. Currently, seeding is 6 per cent complete within the region and is behind the five-year regional average of 28 per cent.

Producers indicated they were able to advance seeding for their oilseed and pulse crops while some have made notable progress in seeding their cereals and perennial forages crops. Seeding progress is as follows:

Oilseed crops:

• 34 per cent for flax; and
• 2 per cent for canola.

Pulse crops:

• 28 per cent for field peas; and
• 16 per cent for lentils.

Cereal crops:

• 21 per cent for spring wheat;
• 6 per cent for barley; and
• 2 per cent for oats.

Perennial forages:

• 19 per cent.

Precipitation was limited throughout the region over the past week. The highest rainfall recorded fell in the Canwood area at four millimetres (mm) with other areas receiving very small or trace amounts.

Drier conditions in the region this week has reduced the amount of topsoil moisture reported as surplus and significantly increased the number of areas reporting as adequate. This will be a benefit to allow field operations to progress.

Cropland topsoil moisture is:

• 15 per cent surplus;
• 82 per cent adequate; and
• 3 per cent short.

Hayland topsoil moisture is:

• 2 per cent surplus;
• 95 per cent adequate; and
• 3 per cent short.

Pasture topsoil moisture is:

• 2 per cent surplus;
• 93 per cent adequate; and
• 5 per cent short.

Within the region, 94 per cent of producers estimate there are no shortages of on-farm surface water supplies for livestock, with 6 per cent estimating shortages may occur in one to two months depending on future moisture conditions. Currently, 88 per cent of producers are not concerned with water quality for their livestock.

Producers are continuing with seeding, herbicide spraying for weeds, land rolling and rock picking. Some livestock producers are starting to move cattle out to pasture.